Posted on 09/13/2006 6:23:28 AM PDT by presidio9
Actor Sean Penn wasted little time unleashing his volatile political views upon a Toronto International Film Festival news conference Sunday, calling U.S. President George W. Bush "a Beelzebub - and a dumb one."
Sporting a moustache and a severe expression and lighting up a cigarette that no one dared say wasn't allowed, Penn was part of a panel promoting "All the King's Men," a story of a well-meaning politician who is eventually corrupted by power and money.
"One could make the argument that George Bush is a good politician," he said sarcastically. "I think the issue is how you define politician. Once upon a time, politics was the organization of things to benefit the people."
When asked by a reporter - who apparently missed the irony in the actor's words - to explain his describing Bush as a good politician, Penn said the definition has changed, just like the definition of good actor is now "contest winner."
"So that's the level of politician I think he's good at. So out of context, he's Beelzebub - and a dumb one."
Penn has been an outspoken critic of Bush and the war on terror, writing an open letter to the president in 2002 and even making a high-profile visit to Iraq for which he incurred accusations that he was unpatriotic.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Robert Penn Warren, "All the King's Men" presents Penn as 1950s-era Louisiana governor Willie Stark, a fictionalized version of onetime real-life governor Huey P. Long. A 1949 film version won Academy Awards for best picture and best actor for Broderick Crawford in the Stark role.
Some are already pointing to Penn as deserving of at least an Oscar nomination for his visceral performance as a good man drawn into an orbit of evil. The film is making its world premiere at the Toronto festival.
Although a period piece, "All the King's Men" prompted Penn's fellow cast members at the news conference to also draw parallels to American political realities today. In the script, a corrupt state administration comes under fire when a shoddily built school collapses, killing some children.
Co-star Mark Ruffalo noted that the film is to be screened soon in New Orleans where "there seemed to be some negligence."
"Not some," interjected Patricia Clarkson, who was born and raised in New Orleans.
"There has been negligence, huge negligence," Ruffalo corrected himself. "It's one of the great things that we can be ashamed of as a country, I think."
At one point, Penn lectured the press photographers, saying he couldn't hear a reporter's question because of the clacking of their shutters. The question was: Could he name a good politician? Penn said he wasn't about to "rattle off the cliches."
"It should be obvious, those people who sacrificed of their talents and their commitment to their country or their people . . . we know who they are and they're not currently in the White House."
Also on hand was one of the film's producers, James Carville, former Clinton administration strategist turned political commentator. In his southern drawl, Carville said all politicians start out trying to do the right thing and that even Stark, while not perfect, does build bridges and provides school textbooks.
But he said "people make compromises" - and not just in politics, but in everyday life, even in filmmaking.
Director and screenwriter Steven Zaillian defended the despair that dominates the film, insisting that in the end, "the good part of (the characters) is not something that gets totally destroyed." And Penn insisted that while the film is a tragedy it does offer the possibility of change.
"The movie leaves it to people to reprise that hope."
Asked why Hollywood doesn't produce more political films, Zaillian predicted more would be coming.
"In troubled times you get the best films, and God knows we're in troubled times now."
"Also on hand was one of the film's producers, James Carville"
Nuff said, we're done here : )
Reminds me of Dukakis wearing a pith helmet : )
MORE political films? HA! MORONS!
This is really gonna hurt Dubya's re-election chances.
"Attended Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California (studied Auto Mechanics and Speech)."
- "Attended", but apparently never graduated. So if Penn isn't even qualified to change the oil in your car, why should we take him seriously when he tries to get his mind around international politics?
"In troubled times you get the best films, and God knows we're in troubled times now."
This movie has been on the shelf for over a year, which means it's pretty much guaranteed to suck. This is the kind of flick you release at oscar time, not dump in September.
I'd forgotten about Sean Penn's butt-kissing visit to Iran. He's such a giant tool.
Not that it's relevant or anything, but All the King's Men was written about a democrat. New Orleans is run by a democrat. In fact, all of Louisiana is run by a democrat. So it only follows that they made it all.about.Bush.
Beelzebub...He keeps using that word. I do not think it means what he thinks it means. My first reaction wasn't to care that he was bashing Bush, but that he shouldn't be using a proper noun as a common noun. I'm so pathetic. Anyway, thirty bucks says he only knows the word from listening to Bohemian Rhapsody.
Casting Couch Alumnist PING!
Hollywood will rave, the film will bomb, the film will not make its investors one cent. These people are nuts!!!
He came there "to help", but came loaded with a "bullet-proof" vest and an "unloaded" shotgun.
What a douche.
Anybody who would listen to a guy, who'd select a strumpet like Madonna for a wife, speak on ANYTHING needs their brains rotor-rootered.
"...one of the year’s most profound disappointments." - David Poland, Movie City News
"Overstuffed and fatally miscast, All The King's Men never comes to life." Penn's performance consists of "...ceaseless arm-waving and gesticulating,..." - Todd McCarthy, Variety
"...it's a misfire from the opening frames." Sean Penn "...seems like a mad huckster from the outset; his performance is so odd that it hardly seems he will make an active descent into evil -- since he acts like he's already there." - Tim Ryan, Variety reviewer writing for RottenTomatoes.com
"One suspects, however, that Zaillian and a vast team of producers and executive producers that includes political consultant and pundit James Carville believe they are making a serious commentary on American politics. It comes closer to kitsch." - Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter
"...the film turns out to be a lot less than was hyped." - Hap Erstein, The Palm Beach Post
What can you expect from a movie that has James Carville as it's prime mover and lists him as an "executive producer"? I wouldn't see it for that reason alone. Add the brain-dead Sean Penn as the lead actor and you have a surefire stinker that Red-State America will not go to see.
("Once upon a time, politics was the organization of things to benefit the people." )
He should have continued: ...when we were in charge. Typical socialist who has faith in the government to work to the benefit of "the people". People like Penn have faith in that government, even if his kind of people cause the death of thousands, as long as they say that they're working for "the people".
Smart move Goober, auto mechanics and speech, when your brain dead pals get tired of your speech making you can always make a buck fixing flats.
Yes, I guess he and natalie maines are at it again. I guess they can always count on getting headlines that way.
I actually used to like sean as an actor. Now I won't go to any of his movies.
Good move -- idiots!!
Besides, isn't he the clown bailing out the boat with a little dixie cup?? Who's a dope, sean???? hahahahahaha!!!
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